Ace and Jun talk for hours, their voices drifting in the quiet of the dimly lit room.
It seems like they had a lot to catch up on, that they didn’t realize it themselves.
They don’t realize when exhaustion takes over. Their words trail off, their eyelids grow heavy, and eventually, they surrender to sleep right where they are.
The house is silent, save for the occasional rustle of the night breeze slipping through the curtains.
But deep into the night, Jun jolts awake.
A sharp, overwhelming heat pulses through his veins, a sensation so foreign and raw that it steals his breath.
His body feels flushed, his skin too hot, and his senses unbearably heightened.
His wolf stirs violently within him, restless, yearning, clawing at the inside of his chest like it’s searching for sothing_ soone.
A deep ache settles in his bones, an unbearable need curling in his stomach, spreading like wildfire through his limbs.
It’s maddening.
He grips the couch, trying to steady himself as his breathing turns ragged.
His throat is dry, and every sound around him is amplified_ the ticking clock, the rustling leaves outside, the faintest shift of Ace’s breathing.
He feels like soone is missing.
What the hell is this?
Before he can make sense of it, Ace suddenly jerks awake on the other side.
His breath is uneven, his fingers twitching as if still caught in sothing beyond this world .
His chest rises and falls sharply before his gaze finally focuses.
"Ace?" Jun’s voice is hoarse, strained.
Ace drags a hand down his face, exhaling deeply before eting Jun’s gaze. His eyes are sharp yet distant, as if the weight of sothing unseen still lingers.
"I think I just had a vision," he says, voice quiet but firm. "From the Moon Goddess."
Jun barely registers his words. His skin feels too tight, his insides burning with a sensation he can’t explain. He shifts uncomfortably, jaw clenching.
Sothing’s wrong.
Ace watches him carefully, then frowns. "Jun... what’s wrong?"
Jun lets out a frustrated breath. "I don’t know," he mutters, gripping the fabric of his pants. "I feel... off. My body... my emotions, they won’t settle. It’s like..." He cuts himself off with a sharp inhale, another wave of heat rolling through him.
Ace studies him for a long mont, then his expression shifts_ understanding flickers in his gaze.
"It’s the mating season," Ace says, his tone certain.
Jun’s head snaps up, confusion flashing across his face. "What?"
Ace leans forward slightly. "That feeling you have...it must be because of the mating season which is like in a day."
Jun stiffens.
Ace exhales. "I think it ans the moon goddess has already given you a mate."
Silence hangs between them.
Jun blinks, his mind struggling to grasp the weight of those words.
A mate?
His mate!?
Ace continues, his voice steady. "They’re out there. Whoever they are, they’re feeling the sa pull right now_ searching for you."
Jun swallows hard, his throat dry. His wolf stirs again at the thought, as if answering an unheard call.
Ace leans back, his expression unreadable. "And I need to find soone before the mating season ritual."
Jun glances at him, still trying to shake off the overwhelming heat coursing through his veins. Eventually, he lets out a breath. "What do you an?"
"Just like Kieran, the moon goddess needs to find soone I want, to present to her on the mating season first day." Ace explains. "She says, we have duties that she needs us to accomplish, and she couldn’t risk Kieran and I fighting each day , so she severed the bond, and since she needs us to be comfortable, she lets us choose a mate." Ace explains, trying to make her words sink in him.
Jun shrugs, though his body still feels unbearably warm. "If you have to present soone, then you better find soone fast, right? So are you going to find soone else?"
"Do I have a choice?!" Ace shrugs.
"Ace, I think it’s better if you talk to Kieran, you guys love each other, is there really a reason for you two going out of the way, finding so other strangers?!" Jun suggests.
"No thank you, but am not doing that! I’ve told you, he doesn’t feel a even a wince for , and am done forcing myself on soone who doesn’t want ! In fact, today am going to find soone, and once I present him to the moon goddess, she will solidify the bond, then all my feelings will move from Kieran, to the mate I found!" Ace snaps, convincing himself.
"And also, you need to find your own mate because trust , it won’t be easy in this season without a mate. Jun, it’ll will be tough, trust ."
Jun sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. The air between them feels heavier now, both burdened with sothing unexpected.
After a mont, Jun sits up straighter. "We need to tell Kieran."
Ace looks at him questioningly. "Why do we need to tell him anything at all?!"
Jun ets his gaze. "About the whole thing! Mine and yours, we need to tell him." Jun knows the real reason why he wants to go to Kieran is because he wants him to know that now Ace has a choice to choose his own mate.
He knows for sure Kieran will feel uneasy about the news.
Jun tells himself that if he gave up on Ace as a lover , and because of Kieran... then they will be together by force by fire... he didn’t give it up for them to go different ways.
They owe him! Their love is sohow the reason why many things have happened to him.
Not that he is mad at them and want to revenge , but he knows they love each other, and he wants to help Ace be with soone he has been desiring, though not at the cost of Kieran mistreating Ace.
Ace hesitates, "I don’t see the need of that."
"Well, I do, so co on." Jun drags Ace upstairs, forcing him in his room to freshen up before they head to Kieran’s territory.
After freshening up, Ace cos out, dressed in an oversize hoodie and oversize sweatpant.
"Holly bananas! Why the hell are you dressed like that?! It’s going to be a hot day, co on, get sothing lighter!" Jun exclaims.
"Am fine this way." Ace confirms.
"Ugh! Whatever!" He mumbles as they make their way out of the house.
Morning sun just coming out.
--
At the mansion,
Kieran stands at the edge of the grand hall, his arms crossed tightly as yet another group of unmated won is led in.
The elders have spared no effort, bringing together the most eligible she-wolves _daughters of alphas, heirs to strong bloodlines, won who would make any alpha proud.
And yet, as Kieran watches them approach, he feels no interest.
The air is thick with the scent of the approaching mating season, a faint but undeniable pull thrumming beneath his skin.
It should make this easier. It should stir sothing in him, push him toward a choice.
But it doesn’t.
A striking woman with golden hair steps forward, confidence in every movent.
Her perfu mingles with the natural scent of wolves in heat, and Kieran clenches his jaw against the instinctive reaction his body wants to have.
"My Alpha," she says smoothly, offering a delicate hand. "It’s an honor to et you."
Kieran takes it briefly, his grip firm but impersonal. "Pleasure."
She smiles, clearly used to admiration.
Her voice flows easily as she speaks of her training, her devotion to pack life, her hopes for the future.
She’s everything an alpha could want_ strong, intelligent, beautiful.
And yet, Kieran feels no rush to make a decision.
His wolf doesn’t stir. His interest remains cold.
Suddenly two figures enters , his sharp senses turns to one.
Ace_ for a mont he wants to go to et him, but he uses every ounce he has to stop himself.
His eyes remain on Ace as they walk towards him , passing through the crowd in the hall.
"Whoa, the place is packed, what’s the event?" Jun asks once they get where Kieran is.
"How are you..." Kieran ignores the question and asks.
"Well, if you really wanted to know how we’re doing you should have at least paid us a visit." Ace mumbles quietly.
"I’ve been pretty busy." Kieran defends himself.
"Clearly," Jun chis in , gesturing people around. "So what’s going on?" Jun insists asking even when he already knows because they had asked on the way to the hall, and the servants told them.
"Nothing important." Kieran brushes him off.
"You know Ace, you could actually use this opportunity, since many wolves are here, male and female, and the moon goddess wants you choose your mate... you can walk around and see if you will like soone. I can help you find a hot guy, or a... holy cheese...! Look at him..." Jun says gesturing at a man, passing by.
Kieran is left stranded, still digesting... moon goddess wants Ace to find a mate too, and Ace is going to look for soone here.
Xiao Jun watches Kieran’s expression closely, and he feels satisfied because Kieran is reacting just like he thought he would.
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